Statement from Dr Brian May

We are concerned and deeply disappointed that the Government has issued 11 new Badger Cull licences to add to the 10 already existing. We have always opposed badger culling because of the cruelty and inhumaneness of free shooting badgers in open fields at night, as confirmed by the government's own Independent Expert Panel.

But we oppose culling also because of the strong scientific evidence that it is not effective, and may make matters worse for farmers and cattle, in addition to its tragic effect on our native badger families.

We have been working with farmers and vets to find a true solution to the serious problem of Bovine TB, and have helped establish protocols that can eradicate TB from a herd without killing a single badger, even if those badgers have tested positive for the disease. This is a crucial signal to farmers all across Britain. Culling badgers is not the solution. No matter how many badgers are killed, this defunct policy will never meaningfully contribute to the eradication of Bovine TB. It is now beyond doubt that re-infection occurs because of latent pathogens left in the herd after skin testing.

The Government have been unable to produce any evidence that culling badgers is working as a solution to bTB, and science clearly indicates it will never work, yet they continue to pursue the policy. Over 12,000 badgers have died for nothing already, at least 22,281 and 33,841 will suffer the same fate before the culls end this Autumn, risking local extinctions of a protected species, at a huge cost to the British taxpayer. Some years ago the RSPCA was criticised for labelling the cull wildlife genocide, but this is now, tragically, the way this policy is clearly heading.

This disaster simply cannot be allowed to continue. The result is devastating for badgers, farmers and cattle. We urge Michael Gove to step in and stop the cull and refocus efforts and finance on finding a real viable solution to the problem of Bovine TB in cattle.

Dr Brian May

Save Me Trust

Recent posts

Team Badger Stop the Cull 2017

BBC Farming Today Tuesday 12th September 2017 Cull expert Prof. Rosie Woodroffe makes the point that DEFRA gave increased biosecurity advice in the cull zones so even if they could show a bTB decrease (which they can't) they couldn't attribute it to culling. It is revealing too that Nigel Gibbens admits they were going to go ahead whatever the analysis of the first 3 years said.Radio 4 Farming Today talks about the New English badger cull licenses this morning - from 3 minutes 15 seconds http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0930znx

Statement from Dr Brian May

We are concerned and deeply disappointed that the Government has issued 11 new Badger Cull licences to add to the 10 already existing. We have always opposed badger culling because of the cruelty and inhumaneness of free shooting badgers in open fields at night, as confirmed by the government's own Independent Expert Panel.

Message from Dr Brian May

Message from Dr. Brian May For the badgers - and actually for us as a nation - this cull is a tragedy and a disaster.What’s less understood is that it’s a tragedy for the farmers and the cattle too. The drive behind continuing with a policy which is failing seems to be that ‘we have to be seen to do something, rather than nothing

Brian May To Auction Guitars In Aid Of Badger Charity

Queen guitarist Brian May is set to auction 11 Badger brand guitars this coming weekend in aid of badger charities. The celebrated guitarist and astrophysicist has campaigned for years against the UK’s controversial badger culling policy that was designed to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Brian May and Save-Me’s response to news of an extended government-led badger cull

We at Save Me are disappointed and profoundly saddened at the news that Theresa May’s government is to escalate its culling of badgers. In 2014 the governments own Independent Expert Panel (IEP) determined that the cull was cruel and ineffective; the panel was promptly sacked for reporting these findings.

No date set for possible badger cull in Cheshire, says government official

Rumours that a badger cull could start in Cheshire next month have been denied by government officials. A spoke person for the Department of the Environment said it was still in the process of determining where any culls might take place, and as yet, no firm date had been set. Robyn Blythe from Cheshire Against the Badger Cull had contacted the Guardian claiming around 1,000 badgers could be killed in a cull that was expected to start in September.

Badger culling may return to Devon this summer

The cull in Devon started at this time last year, will it return? The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), was issued two badger control licenses for areas in Devon in 2016 which are valid until 2019. Last year culling began in Devon and Somerset at the end of August and a Devon animal lover expects the cull to return this year. Before a cull can begin an authorisation letter must be published by the Government, so far no such letter has been published.

'Glorious 12th' protests in London as Chris Packham says bloodsports are as outdated as slavery

Campaigners protesting against the killing of animals for sport took to the streets of London on the first day of the grouse shooting season. Demonstrators marched through central London to Downing Street, calling for an end to badger culling and driven grouse shooting and urging the Government to keep the ban on fox hunting with hounds. Ahead of the protest Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, who joined crowds of people in the capital, condemned such activities as a "dying business", likening the activity to slavery or homophobia.

#CrushCruelty London March 12th August 2017

The 12th August, a day previously associated with the start of the grouse shooting season took on new meaning this year as thousands of campaigners took to the streets of London for the #CrushCruelty march.The Demonstrators, led by writer and broadcaster, Chris Packham, marched through central London to Downing Street, calling for an end to badger culling and driven grouse shooting and urging the Government to keep the ban on fox hunting with hounds.

Farmers face restrictions as badgers found to carry bovine TB in Cumbria

EXPERTS have warned against calls for a badger cull to combat bovine TB outbreaks in Cumbria at this stage, saying it would be 'ridiculous' and a 'knee jerk reaction'. The possibility of a cull comes following the discovery of badgers carrying bovine TB in the Shap and Penrith areas. This is the first time in 30 years that the disease has been detected in badgers in the county. The government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has been investigating outbreaks among cattle on 16 farms in the affected areas.